Slicing machine



Filed Nov. 8, 192

4 Sheets-Sheet l fidezzfo W 4624 April 14, 1931 J. FOLK SLICING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1926 4 Shgets-Sheet 3 April. 14, 1931. J. FOLK SLIQING MACHINE med Nov. 8, 926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented A r. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT ore-ice JOSEPH rota, or LA roars, rivnrana, nssrsnort to U. s. snronve racirr vn corr- PAnY, or LA roars, INDIANA, a conronarlon or ran ans sLIonvo Maonrnn Application filed November 8,1926. Serial No. 146,919.

This invention relates to a machine for slicing meat or other commodities, and has for one of its objects the provision of a device for collecting the slices as they are formed in an orderly pile or stack.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the class named which shall be of improved construction and opera tion.

Other objects will appear from the following description.

The invention is exemplified in the combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawings 1 is a front elevation, with parts in section, showing a slicing machine having one embodiment of the present invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section substantially on line 3 of Fig. 1; a

Fig. 4 is a section substantially on line 4--4 of Fig. 2; i

Fig. 5 is a section substantially on line 55 of Fig. 4; and.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 4.

The numeral 10 designates a base having a bracket 11 mounted thereon provided with a bearing 12 having a knife spindle 13 journaled therein. A disc knife 14 is carried by the journal 13 and a pulley wheel 15 is fixed to the spindle and knife. The bracket 11 has a web or plate 16 integral therewith which forms a housing enclosing a belt 17 which passes over the pulley 15 and engages a second pulley'18 mounted on a motor shaft 19. The motor shaft 19 is driven by a motor 20 mounted on the base 10. A plate 21 is secured to the rearwardly extending edge 22 of the web member 16 and covers the major portion of the rear face of the knife 14. Theknife 14 is provided with an offsetshonlder 23 and one edge of the plate 21 is curved, as shown at 24. to it within the shoulder 23 of the knife 14, the knife and plate being arranged at aslight angle to one another to permit the curved portion of the plate 21 to project into the recess formed by the shoulder 23, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. i

A housing member 27 is supported onthe base 10 and is provided with arear wall 28 which carries a plate 29'having a curved edge 30 disposed adjacent the exposed edge of the knife 14. An upright shaft 31*is journaled in brackets 32 formed on the wall of the lions ing member 27. The shaft 31 carries arms 33 which support a rod 34 pivotally connected with ears 35 formed on the wall 28. A link 36 is interposed between an ear 37 on the wall 28 and a bracket 38 on the housing member 27. The link 36 and the arms .33 form parallel motion mechanism for guiding the wall 28 and plate 29 to permit adjustment of the plate 29 relative to the cutting plane of the knife 14. To adjust the position of theplate 29 a hand wheel 39 is formed on a shaft 40 journaled in the housing 27 and provided with a worm 41 which meshes with 'aworm segment 42 on the shaft 31. A work support .43 is mounted to slide in the rear of the plates 29 and 21 in the direction of the cutting plane of the knife 14. The support 43, as shown in Fig. 2, is in the form of a trough having inclined side walls 44 and '45, the inner surfaces of which are provided with ribs or corrugations extending transverse to the cutting plane of the knife to reduce the friction of the material supported in thetrough and permit easy movement thereof toward the knife. The work support 43 is mountedtoslide on a guide rod 46 supported by posts 47 on the base 10. A second guide 48 is mounted be neath the guide rod 46 and engages a downwardly extending arm 49 for preventing rotation of thesupport about the guide rod 46 A handle 50 is secured to the support 43 for reciprocatingthe support on itsguides.

A piece of material to be sliced is placed in the support 43 and the plate 29 is adjusted in front of the cutting plane of the knife 14 by an amount equal to the thickness of the slice desired. The knife is rotated by the motor 20 and the support 43 is moved along the guides 46 and 48 to cause the projecting portion of the material to engage the exposed edge of the knife 14to sever the projecting number of slices has been formed or until the material has beenas nearly completely sliced as possible with this formof apparatus. In order to direct the slices as they are severed away from the slicing knife 14, a deflector 51 is arranged adjacent the front face of the slicing knife 14 so as'to cover the larger portion of the cutting face of the knife. The. edge of the deflector 51 is curved, as shown at 52, concentrically with the edge of the knifeand is spaced from the edge of the knife by a small amount sufficient to permit the knife to sever the slices from the body of the material in the support 43. The deflector plate extends backwardly at an angle to the cutting planeof the knife and forms a housing enclosing the bearing 12,. asshownin Fig. 3. The front edge of the deflector plate 51 is provided with ribs or corrugations extending in a substantially horizontal direction to decrease the frictional resistance that the deflector offers to the slices. A slice receiver 53 is disposed beneaththe deflector 51 and comprises an in clined plate 54 having an abutment '55 at the end thereof toward which the slices are directed as they'le'ave the slicing knife. A supporting plate 56 is arranged substantially normal to the inclined plate 54' and is carried by a bracket 57 projecting upwardly through a slot 58 in the plate 54. It will be seen from the drawings that the plate 56 has its top inclined forwardly and also has the end thereof adjacent the abutment in clined away from the deflector 51.

It will bennderstood that as the slice is directed away from the slicing knife by the defiector 51 the severed end of the slice will tend to niove forwardly and downwardly andthe' inclination of the plate 56 is for the purpose of providing clearancefor the slice as 1t is pro ected 111 lts'natural course along the face of the plate 56. The shoe aslt 1s severed is suspended from its upper corner still attached to the body of the material being sliced. The momentum of the slice, to-' gether with the force exerted at the end thereof still attached to the body of the material,'carries the slice along the plate 56 until 'such t me as'it is completely severed from the piece, whereupon the slice falls for- 51, o'f' coursc, assists in {directing the slice awayfrom the slicinglrmfe and along the plate 56. The deflector and plate are arranged in position to permit the slice to take substantially its" natural direction under the forces of gravity andinertia and the supporting force due to the attachment of the slice to the unsevered body of the material. The slice is received in the position which it takes at the time that it is completely severed and is permitted to lie flat against the upper face of the-plate56. After each slice is deposited the plate-56 is fed downwardly and forwardly to provide space for additional slices.

The feeding mechanism comprises a screw 59 journaled in a bracket 60' which supports the lower end of the slice receiver 53. The

upper end of the screw 59 is journaled in a' bracket 61 mounted on the frame 10. A ratchet wheel 62 is secured to the upper end of the screw 59 and is operated by a pawl 63 pivoted on a lever 64'. ",Thebracket 61 carries a pin 65 which engages a stop 66'formed on the lever 64 for limiting. rotation of the lever arm 64 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5. A spring 67 rotates the lever to bring the stop 66 against the pin 65. t The lever 64 extends into the path of a roller-68 on an arm 69 projecting forwardly from the work support 43. The roller 68.

engages the lever 64after the slice has been severed and movesthe lever to rotate the ratchet wheel 62 and the screw 59 .to feedxthe plate 56 downwardly. A spring-held ball 70 is carried in a sleeve 71 formed at the lowor end ofthe bracket 57' and surrounding the screw 59. The ball engages the threads of the screw 59 to feed the bracket downwardly when the screw 59 is rotated. In order to return the plate 56 to its initial or any desired position on the slice receiver it is only necessary to exert sufficient force on the plate toovercome the"spring-pressure on the ball 70 to cause the ha ll to ratchet "over the threads on the screw 59. The contact faces of the plates 53'and 55 are corrugated, as shown in the drawings, to permit ready movement of a stackofi slices as theplate 56' is fed downwardly. v

' 1. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife anda work support, said' work support being movable'past theedge of said knife in a plane parallel to'the plane of the edge of said knifefor severing slices from material held by said support; a'stationary slice receiver disposed at the side'ofsaid knife oppositesaid work support adapted to support the slices as they are being formed, a slice support mounted in said receiver, and means for feeding v said slice support away from said knife to accommodate additional slices as they are,- deposited in said receiver.

2. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a work support arranged to reciprocate past the cutting edge'of said knife in a plane parallel to the plane of the edge of said knife to sever slices from material held by said work support, a stationary slice receiver adapted to support the slices as they are be.- ing formed disposed at the side of said knife opposite said work support adjustable to-, wards and away from the knife, and a slice support mounted on said slice receiver and disposed at an angle to the cutting plane of said knife.

3. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a work support movable relative to the cutting edge of said knife for severing slices from material on said support, a slice receiver mounted in fixed position atthe side of said knife opposite said work support, and a slice support mounted on said slice receiver, said slice support being inclined outwardly from the cutting plane of said knife at the side thereof toward which the slices move as they are severed by said knife.

4. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a work support movable past the cutting edge of said knife to sever slices from material on said worksupport, a slice sup port disposed at the side of said knife opposite said work support, said slice support being inclined outwardly away from the cut ting plane of said knife at the upper portion thereof and also at the side thereof toward which the slices are movedwhen severed by said knife, and means for adjusting said slice support away from the cutting plane of said knife along a fixed path to accommodate additional slices as they are formed.

5. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a work support movable relative to the cutting edge of said knife to sever slices from material on said support, a slice receiving platform inclined downwardly away from the cutting plane of said knife, and a slice support movable along the upper face of said slice receiving platform, said slice support being inclined away from the cutting plane of said knife at the top thereof and also at the side thereof toward which the slices are moved as they are severed by said knife, and means for feeding said slice support away from the cutting plane of said knife to accommodate additional slices as they are formed.

6. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a work support movable relative to the cutting edge of said knife to sever slices from material carried by said work support, a slice receiver disposed at the side of said knife opposite said work support and inclined downwardly away from said knife, an abutment plate at the side of said slice receiver toward which slices are moved when severed by said knife, and a slice support disposed above said slice receiver and inclined away from the cutting plane of said knife at the side of said slice receiver adjacent said abutment.

7. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, awork support movable past the cutting edge of said knife to present material to said knife to sever slices from said material, a deflector inclined outwardly and backwards ly from the cutting edge of said knife, and a substantially flat slice support spaced from said deflector and inclined outwardly and backwardly from the cutting plane, of, said knife. 1 i i a 8. A slicing machine comprisinga slicing knife, a work support movable relative to said knife to present'material to said knife to sever slices from said material, a deflector having one edge thereof disposed adjacent the cutting edge of said knife at theside of said knife opposite said work support, said deflector being inclined outwardly and back-v wardly from the cutting edge of said knife, the upper portion of said deflector being inclined outwardly a greater amount thanthe lower portion thereof, and a slice'receiver. spaced from said deflector and having the upper portion thereof inclined outwardly and also having the portion thereof toward which the slices move as they are severed inclined outwardly, said slice receiver being adapted to occupy a fixed angular position relative to the plane of said knife at all times.

9. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a work'support movable pastthe cutting plane of said knife, a slice deflector at the side of said knife opposite said work support having one edge disposed adjacent the cutting edge of said knife, said deflector being inclined outwardly and backwardly away fromthe cutting plane of said knife, a slice receiver inclined outwardly and downwardly below said deflector, and a slice sup port disposed above said slice receiver, said slice support being inclined-outwardly and upwardly and also outwardly and backwardly from the cutting edge ofsaid knife.

10. A slicing machine comprisinga slicing knife having a substantially vertical cutting plane, a horizontally disposed work support movable past the cutting edge of said knife, a

slice deflector at the side of said knife opposite said work support, said deflector being inclined outwardly and :backwardlyfrom the cutting edge of said knife and having the upper portion thereof inclined outwardly to a greater extent than the lower portion thereof, a slice support inclined outwardly and backwardly from the cutting edge .of said knife, and means for feeding said slice support away from said deflector along a stationary path to accommodate additional slices as they are severed by said knife.

11. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife having a substantially vertical cutting plane, a substantially horizontal work support movable past the cutting edge of said knife, a slice deflector disposed at theside of said knife opposite said work support, said deflector being inclined outwardly, andbaekand 'also being inclined outwardly atithe upper portion thereof, said deflector having restricted contact members for engaging the slices as they are severed by said knife, and a slice support spaced away'from said deflector, said slice support being inclined away from the cutting edgeof said knife and mounted to move only in a straight path towards and from said knife.

12., A slicing'machine comprising a slicingknife having a substantially vertical cutting plane, asubstantially horizontal Work support movable past thecutting edge of said knife, a slice receiver at the side of said knife opposite said work support, said slice receiver being inclined outwardly and downwardly from the cutting plane of said knife, an. abut ment plate at the side of said receiver toward which the slices move as they are severed by said knife,'a slice support movable over the surface of said slice'receiver, and a deflector for directing slices onto said slice receiver against said slice support, said deflector and receiver having-the surfaces thereof provided with restricted contact lines to diminishfriction of the slices as they move along said surfaces.

' 13. A slicingmachine comprising a slicing knife, a work support movable relative to the cutting plane of'said knife, a stationary slice receiver disposed at the side of said knife opposite'said work support, a slice support movable over thesurface of said slice receiver, a feed screw for said slice support, and means operated by said work support for rotating. said feed screw to move said slice support to.

accommodate additional slices as they are severed.

14. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a work support movable past the cutting edgeof said knife, a relativelyfixed slice receiver disposed at the side ofsaid knife opposite said work support, a slice support movable along the surface of said slice receiver, a feed screw for moving said slice support, pawl and ratchet mechanism for rotat-.

ing said feed screw, and a'contact member connected to said work support for operating said pawl and ratchet mechanism at each movement of said work support past the cutting edge of said slicing knife.

15. A slicing'machine comprising aslicing knife having a substantially vertical cutting i plane, a slice receiver disposed adjacent'sald.

slicing knife and inclined outwardlyand downwardly therefrom, a slice support move able over the upper face of said slicereceiver, an inclined feed screw for moving said slice support, and means for periodicallyrotating said feed screw.

. 16. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife having a substantially vertical cutting plane, a substantially horizontal work sup .port movable past the cuttingedgeof-said slicing knife, a deflector disposed at the side of said slicing knife opposite said worksupport and having one edge disposed adjacent the cutting edge of saidslicing knife,

said deflector being inclined outwardly and backwardly from the cutting edge of said knife and having its upper portion inclined outwardly beyond the lower portion thereof, 7

a'slicereceiver below said deflector and inclined outwardly and downwardly from the cutting plane of said knife, an abutment plate at the side of said deflector towardwhichthe port for periodically rotating said feed screw.

17. A slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a work support arranged to move past the'cutting edge of said knife to sever slices therefrom, and a substantially flat slice support inclined at an angle to the cutting plane of the knife in both a horizontal and verticaldirection.

18. A slicing machine as claimed in claim 17 in which the slice support ismovable in a direction substantially perpendicular to its vertical inclination to the cutting plane ofthe knife. 7

19. A slicing machine comprising'a'slicing knife, a work supportmovable pas'tthe cutting edge of said knife to present material 'to said knife so that it maycut slices from said material, a deflector inclinedout- Wardly and backwardly from the cutting edge of the knife, and a slice support spaced from. said deflector, said slice support being inclinedin both a vertical and horizontal direction to the cutting plane of theknife, and movable only along a fixed path away from said knife.

20.-A slicing machine. comprising a'slicingknife,'a work support; arranged to move relative to said slicing knife on one side there of, a slice support arranged on the other side thereof adapted to move along a straight line bearing a fixedrelation to the plane of said knife, said slice supportbeing inclined in both a'horizontal and vertical direction relativeto the cutting plane of the knife.

21. A slicing machineas claimed in claim 20 in which a feeding means is provided to move the support along said straight line. 22. A. slicing machine comprising a slicing knife, a work; support arranged to move past the cutting edge of said knife 'to sever slices from material on said work support, and a slice support disposed at the opposite side of said knife from said work support, said slice support beinginclined away from the cutting edge of said knife at the top there- 

